Protecting Our Treasured Animals

an artist's perspective: by Isabelle du Toit

Inspiring art by Isabelle du Toit focuses the viewer on the importance of protecting our world's animal treasures, many of whose numbers are dwindling at frightening rates. Ms. du Toit is an incredible artist in her own right and those interested in viewing some of her other pieces on this theme are encouraged to visit her website, here.

Below are a couple of examples. With Ms. du Toit's permission, I will be adding other of her inspired works to this page.

"Sentinel" 90x76 inches oil on canvas.

It was a sense of irony that has inspired me to call this painting Sentinel.
In addition to being large, powerful and beautiful, elephants are also highly intelligent, very sensitive, emotional beings.

At first glance one might therefore assume that the title of the painting refers to the elephant, but in fact, it is the human baby that is the sentinel. I think it is important to understand that elephants are part of the world's heritage and as such deserve international protection and respect.

As a South African I've had the privilege to watch wild elephants roam freely and I strongly feel that all children should have that same humbling, awe-inspiring privilege in the future. Yet, ironically, the elephant's tusk safely holding the child is the very feature indirectly responsible for the demise of these beautiful creatures."

~from the artist~

"EmpathyI" 48x72 inches, oil on canvas.

"Empathy is about our treatment of Orangutans and wildlife. I ask how we would feel if the roles where reversed?"